Rock Island daily Argus., 1887-07-23

that the Beers were beating the great white
people, who came out Of the sea and shook
the earth with their tread Whereon the
neighbor would take the opportunity to relax
from toll and squat down and have pinch
of snuff, and relate in what particular coiiec-
ton Of rocks on the hillside he and his wives
slept the last night, for when the Beers are
out on commando the Kaffirs will not sleep
in their huts for fear of being surprised and
shot down. Then the pair would spend half
an hour or so in speculating on what would be
their fate when the Beers had eaten up the
Englishnen and taken back the country, and
finally came to the conclusion that they had
better emigrate TO Natal
Bessie. o.: the veranda, noted all this going
on, every now and again catching snatches
of the lazy rascals' talk, which chImed In but
too sadly with her own thoughts Turning
from it impatiently, she began to watch the
hens marching solennly about the drive, fol-
lowed by their broods. This picture, too,
had a sanguinary background, for under an
orange tree two rival cocks were lighting
furiously. They always did this about once
a week. nor did they cease from troubling
till each retired, temporarily blinded, to the
shade of separate orange tree, where they
spent the rest of the week in recovering, only
10 emerge when the cure was effected and
fight their battles over again. Meanwhile a
third cock, young in years but old in wisdom
who steadily refused 10 fight when attacked,
looked after the hens in dispute. To-day the
fight was particularly ferocious, and, fearing
that the eombatants would have no eyes left
at all if she did not interfere, Bessie called to
the old Boer hound who WAS lying in the sun
on the veranda
Ali, Stomp, Stomp-hunt them, Stomp"
Up iumped Stomp and made prodigious
show of furiously attacking the embattled
cocks: it was an operation TO which he was
used, and which afforded him constant
amusement Suddenly, however, as he
dashed toward the trees he stopped midway,
his simulated wrath ceased. and, instead, an
expression of real disgust came upon his
honest face Then the hair along his back
bone stood up like the quills upon the fretful
porcupine and he growled
"a strange kaffir, expect said Bessie to
herself.
Stomp hated strange Kaffirs. She had
scarcely got the words out before they were
justified by the appearance of native. He
was a villainots looking fellow, with one eye,
and nothing ON but pair of ragged trousers
fastened round the waist with a greasy
leather strap In his wool however, were
stuck several small distended bladders, such
as are generally worn by medicine men and
witch doctors. In his left hand he held
long stick cleft at the end In the cleft was
letter.
~Come here, Stomp" said Bessie, and as
she did so a wild hope shot across her heart
like meteor across the night; perhaps the
letter was from John.
The dog obeyed her unwillingly enough,
for he evidently did not like that kaliir; and
when he saw that Stomp was well out of the
way the Kaftir himself followed. He was
an insolent fellow, and took no notice of Bes-
sic beyond squatting himself down upon the
drive in front of her.
What is it!7 said Bessie, IN Dutch her lips
trembling as she Spoke.
"A letter. answered the man
"tiive it 80 me-
No. missie, not till have looked ct Won to
see if it is right Light yellow hair that
curls-ouc." " checking it on his fingers, YES,
that is right, large blue eveS-two. that is
right, big and tall, and fair as a star-yes,
the letter is for you, take 1t, and he poked
the long stick up almost into her face
Where is it FROM" asked Bessie, with sud
den suspicion, recoiling a step.
"Wakkersroom last ="
"Who Is 1t from3n
Read it, and you will see"
Bessie took the Aetter, which was wrapped
up in piece of old newspaper. from the cleft
of the stick and turned it over and over
doubtfully Most of us have mistrust of
strange looking letters, and this letter was
unusually strange TO begin with, it had no
address whatever on the dirty envelope,
which was curious In the second place, sle
envelope was sealed apparently with three
penny bit
Are You sure it is for me!~ asked Bessie.
Yah, yah-Sure, sure, answered the ma
tive. with rude laugh There are not many
such white girls In the TransvaaL | have
made no mistake. | have 'smelt YOU out -
And he began to go through his catalogue
yellow hair that curls. etc-again
Then Bessie opened the letter. Inside was
an ordinary sheet of paper written over in a
bold, firm. vet slightly Impractical writing
that Bessie knew well enough, and the SIGHT
of which filled her with a presentin ent of
evil Ii was Frank Muller's.
She turned sick and cold, but could not
choose, and read as follows:
"CAMP HEAR PRETORIA Feb Is
"DEAR Miss BESSIE am sorry to have
TO write to you. but though We have quar-
relied lately and also your coed uncle, |
think it my duty to do so, and send this to
your hand by special runner. Yesterday
was sortie made by the poor folk in Pre-
toria, who are now as thin with hunger as the
high veldt oxen Just before spring Our arms
were again victorious; the redcoats ran away
and left their ambulance in our hands, carry
ing with them many dead and wounded.
Among the dead was the Capt Nieln-
Here Bessie gave sort of chOEad cry and